Kohala Lighthouse Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on offer for the Kohala Lighthouse (Big Island) area over the next couple of weeks. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, and you’re going to have to be patient. The first few days are a write-off – we’ve got a decent sized swell rolling in, around 7 ft to 8 ft from the ENE, but it’s all cross-shore wind and messy. The combined wave energy is seriously pumping, reading 1475 to 2023 (moderate to strong), but the quality just isn’t there. It’s blown out, lumpy, and the reports are all “marginal” which is surf-speak for “stay on the beach.” The water temp is a balmy 81°, which is pretty much spot on for this time of year.

The real window of opportunity, the standout by a long shot, is Tuesday the 8th of September. It’s not big, but it’s clean. We’ve got a drop in the swell to about 6 ft in the morning and 5 ft in the afternoon, still pushing from the NE. The wind goes totally glassy, swinging around to a light NW or ESE breeze at only 3 mph, which is a major positive. For a reef break like this that’s exposed to the north, that’s the best you’re going to get. The period is a solid 10 to 11 seconds, a nice groundswell, so the waves will have shape. The combined energy drops to a moderate 735 to 973. It’s an advanced spot and with scores of “good surf conditions” predicted, this is the one to circle on the calendar. The crowd factor says “sometimes,” so you might have a few others with the same idea, but it’ll be worth it.

After that Tuesday session, it starts to go downhill again. From Wednesday the 9th onwards, the onshore ENE winds come back with a vengeance, blowing 12 to 19 mph, and the surf quality plummets. We’re stuck in a pattern of poor surf conditions, with cross-shore and cross-onshore winds creating lumpy, choppy waves. The swell sticks around at 5 ft to 8 ft for a while, but with short periods dropping to 6 or 7 seconds, it’s just a windswell mess. The energy drops off to low to moderate readings (247 to 593) but it’s all texture and no quality. This run of poor conditions extends right through to the end of the outlook on the 20th of September. There are no other standouts in that second week – it’s a long gap of disappointment.

So to wrap it up: aim for Tuesday the 8th. That’s your best and really only clean shot at Kohala Lighthouse. The rest of the 16-day window is blown out and not worth chasing.

Rusty.

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